Newsletter: Feb, 2008

From the Vicar
This year sees the implementation of a new rule by the diocese about churchwardens. They may only serve for six years unless special permission is given by the bishop and this is not encouraged. Both our current wardens have done six years or more and so they will not be eligible for re-election. As a result we will be looking for two new wardens at the APCM.

While changing both wardens at once is not an ideal way of doing things, I am assured by members of Standing Committee that there will be continuity and support from the former wardens.

The role of churchwarden is part of a delicate balance in the parish between the views of the priest and the views of the congregation, and the importance of this role is recognised by the churchwardens being licensed by the bishop.

So as we start to look around for new wardens, I urge you all to pray on this matter and consider carefully whom you would like to represent you in the parish.

Nearer the time we will be asking for nominations and I hope after the final vote we will be able to see God’s plan working out in the parish.

Mark Ewbank

Ash Wednesday and Lent
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

John Connolly’s novel The Book of Lost Things tells the story of a boy called David who escapes from unhappiness at home into the strange alternative world of the books in his bedroom. As David tries to find his way back home, he is forced to face up to his worst fears. As he does so, he grows from a boy into a man.

Finally David faces down and destroys the mysterious Crooked Man, the driving force in the alternative world. The Crooked Man lives forever, drawing the life-force from small children for his own use. He brings death and despair to all who encounter him. One of the cruellest things he does is to show people an image of when and how they will die. This knowledge blights the lives of those who receive it. They can no longer take any pleasure in life, because their death dominates all their thinking.

Human beings are not supposed to know how and when they will die. But knowing that we will die is a feature of our human life. We are aware of our mortality. We know that our lives are finite. We feel in our bodies the signs of ageing. In order to get on with our lives, we push the knowledge of our mortality to the edges of our consciousness most of the time. But occasionally we need to remember.

Ash Wednesday is the day the Church gives us for remembering our mortality. In the context of our belief in Jesus Christ, we do have choices about what happens to us after death. In an Ash Wednesday reading from Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells his hearers that we make choices, day by day, about what is valuable, not always realising that those choices have ultimate significance. When we choose to store up our “treasures in heaven”, we are not denying the reality of physical death, only its permanence.

If we follow the Church’s tradition and receive ash on our foreheads, we hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” We are reminded of the scene in the Garden of Eden, told to us by the authors of Genesis. Human beings are created from the dust of the ground, and have the life of God breathed into them. They live contented, unencumbered by awareness of their mortality, until they eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then they become aware of who they are, in all their frailty, weakness and sinfulness. They know that as they came from the dust, so they will in the end return to the dust – as will we.

We are invited on Ash Wednesday to think about our death, to look it in the face, and not to pretend we are immortal. It is a painful process. But we are not left alone to despair. The words at the imposition of ashes continue: “Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.”

Ash Wednesday (6th February) is the beginning of the season of Lent. We are reminded that Jesus was a human being like us. A more fully human person than the rest of us, in his ability consistently to put the claims of God above his human drives and desires; but human like us in being tempted to put self first. Jesus experienced our weakness, and our mortality. He knew for himself what it was like to be aware of death, and to be afraid. He lived, and died, as we do. But by doing so he gave us hope that our mortality is not the last word. Death xdid not, ultimately, have power over Jesus, nor does it over those who belong to him. So as we are urged to remember that we are dust, we are also exhorted to be faithful to Christ, to follow the one who shows us a way to face death and not despair.

The awareness of mortality is both humanity’s greatest tragedy and our greatest gift. It can lead us to despair, but it can also drive us on to greater heights of achievement. We can allow it to make our lives meaningless, or we can use it to remind us to make the most of the time we have. The season of Lent encourages us to be honest with ourselves and with God about who we are – weak, sinful, mortal, and in need of salvation. So we can choose to turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ, and live our lives, brief though they may be, to the full in God’s service.

LENT GROUPS
The Lent Groups will start on Sunday 10th February. The details are as follows:
Sunday evenings (Andrew Sheer)
10 Englehurst, 01784 436576

Tuesday evenings (Rita Berry)
16 Laurel Avenue, 01784 433560

Wednesday evenings (Bob and Sue Kensey),
9 Larksfield 438392, (Maria)

Tuesday evenings (Roy Gouriet)
12 Larksfield, 01784 435602

Thursday mornings (Val Ward)
10.00am – 12 noon
29 Alderside Walk, 01784 436541

Please would people wishing to come telephone the leaders for details.

The aim is not to make it an intellectual exercise but rather an opportunity for everyone to discuss their thoughts on what things are important for living a good life. All are welcome regardless of beliefs or culture.

BISHOP OF GUILDFORD'S LENT CALL
This year the Bishop of Guildford’s Lent Call take a new form. It not a purely monetary appeal. He calls upon the people of the churches during the season of Lent to pray, to fast and to give. In this biblical way, we come close to Jesus and close to the suffering world for which he died. We are asked to pray each day for closer communion with Jesus, as he looks with compassion on our world.

The bishop invites us to give up one meal a week — perhaps on Fridays and asks us to give what we save to local and international outreach. He asks that we support the Amos Trust which promotes justice and provides hope in various parts of the world and nearer to home and he asks us to support community projects through the Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation. He asks that we support his Lent Call by praying, fasting and giving.

STUDY GROUPS
Did you know that there is one study group which meets regularly throughout the year and not just during Lent?

This is run by Geoff and Jenny Chew and it meets on the first and third Sunday evening each month. It is normally at The Mount, Malt Hill, Egham (almost opposite Middle Hill where it joins the A30). Please telephone Jenny on 435664 for more details.

GIFT AID CHANGES
Gift Aid is about to become less generous to all charities including St Jude’s Church. At the moment, HM Revenue and Customs send 28p tax back for every pound donated under Gift Aid. That figure will go down to 25p with effect from 6th April 2008. For that reason all who make regular contributions are urged to raised their level of giving to compensate.

For example, a regular gift of £20 will need to go up to £20.48 to keep pace while a £100 gift will need to be £102.40, etc. Although this seems a small amount, without an increase from church members, we may face financial problems in the future.

SATURDAY AFTERNOONS
As you may know, we keep St Jude’s Church open for visitors each Saturday afternoon between 2.00 and 4.00pm. To do this safely and adequately requires at least 3 people at all times. To keep this running, we must have a rota of people who would take a turn — obviously the more offers we have, the less often each one would have to do. If you can help with this, say, once every two months, please contact the Churchwardens (telephone numbers are shown above) or by email to saturdays@stjudeschurch.info. Your help would be appreciated.

FROM THE REGISTERS
Funerals:
(7th January) Mavis Alexander; (15th) Edward Johnson; (23rd) Terence Brettell. (

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNINGS
There will be a Coffee Morning in the porch of the Methodist Church in Victoria Street on Saturday 2nd February from 10.00am. Please do come along for coffee and a chat.

Coffee mornings at St Jude’s Church are taking a break now probably until the Spring. Hopefully the weather next year will persuade us to have more of them.

STAY AND PLAY
A new parent and child group will be held in the Methodist Hall, Victoria Street, every Tuesday from January 15th, 10.00am – 12noon.

Parents (or carers) of children from prebirth to pre-school are welcome. The cost will be 50p per session.

This group is under the care of the Haven Children's Centre based at Egham Hythe School.

To offer help to do refreshments, or for more information, contact Social Worker Jane Perry on 07872 170460.

ANNUAL MEETINGS
The Annual Vestry Meeting (where the Churchwardens are elected) and The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will take place at approximately 11.00am (after the 9.30am service) on Sunday 27th April. Members of the Deanery Synod will need to elected this year and changes may be made to the Electoral Roll.

WOMEN'S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The Women's World Day of Prayer is on Friday 7th March.

In St Jude's Church, there will be a service at 2.00pm. The preacher will be the Revd Sally Rogers, Anglican Chaplain from Royal Holloway. The service, prepared by Christian Women of Guyana, will last about an hour and will be followed by tea and cakes. Men, women and children are welcome. Please come and bring as many friends as possible.

Services will also be held at Christ Church, Virginia Water at 2.00pm (preacher the Revd Judith Allford) and at St John's Parish Church, Egham at 8pm (preacher Mrs Margaret Willis).

CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY 2008

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